There wasn't as much backlash about the baggies.

The TSA is taking a PR beating on these machines. It's in their best interest to minimize that by coming up with a solution.

I am confused. Did OP get a peak of the actual TSA viewing facility at BOS? Didn't DHS/TSA claim it can't release images from NoS to the public because it's supposed to be SSI? Now there is an opportunity for anyone invited to such tour to view those images?! What am I missing?

LAX

Oh, I don't doubt that. But any statement that "a new software upgrade will be available in April" should be treated with skepticism. Not that I don't believe the sincerity of those offering the quote. But software is simply never delivered on time, period.

Besides, that's not really an answer to the complaint. "We're sorry that people have to look at computer-generated images of your bits-and-pieces, but rest assured that they'll only have to do this for several more months. We hope."

Like I said ... when it comes to this software upgrade, I'll believe it when I see the press release that says "it's being rolled out today" --- and not before.

Oh from a generic software-deadline standpoint, I completely agree. Point taken.

There simply is too much backlash for the TSA to not do something. If Pistole was put under oath again in a committee and testified that there was nothing done beyond crew exemption and a modified kiddie rub-down, there would be even more hell to pay.

I'm not saying the stick figure is the answer to everything, but if it's indeed true, I will give the TSA some credit for trying.

The software is available today, just not branded for TSA at a ridiculous price.

Some credit, perhaps. But TSA, like most of us, is graded on results, not intentions. I'll reserve full credit for when they get the job done.

Which means, of course, that it's not really available --- at least to anyone traversing a TSA checkpoint anytime soon.

Why, what else would they be doing? I once set up a computer network used by the NYPD for surveillance, and got to see this behavior first-hand. Do you really think they were looking for anything other than hot chicks (if looking at the screen at all)? Hint: if you said yes, try again.

That's one of the biggest security problems with this: a metal detector alarm is impossible to ignore, while a lazy TSA agent "looking" at an AIT may very well just send passengers through without even looking at the screen.

--Jon

LOL, hey give the big dogs a break. It takes time to buy stock in every DHS software peddler with a GSA approval sticker. Chertoff and his buddies are not Supermen, just average free market capitalists with no insider connections working hard to make an honest dollar. When they line up the right nudge nudge wink wink consulting contracts, TSA will get its ridiculous price software.

From what I can tell:

The operator isn�t looking at a live image. The data is captured, stored in RAM and the image displayed to the operator until the operator dismisses it. I think the TSA means to say the data isn�t saved to a persistent store (e.g., a hard drive).

Whoopdedoo. Months away. Just shut 'em off till then.

I've said it in other posts, these imagers were rushed to market 2-5 years ahead of time simply to provide a new act for the special holiday performance of security theater.

If software is being rushed to provide another new act for security theater by April it it is because either: (1) TSA is afraid they will lose in court on the virtual strip-search aspects of the fourth ammendment argument or (2) TSA is receiving an enormous amount of behind-the-scenes pressure from congressman et. al. over the looking at nude images issue or (3) a combination of both.

Fair enough.

However, by the same token, can we now all agree once and for all that the TSA lied through its teeth from day one saying the scanner images were ready for the cover of Reader's Digest and to be handed out at your local preschool?

If that were indeed the case, there would be absolutely no need for the change to a stick figure.

From BB at PV (back in April):

But it seems to work in other countries.

Did any one think that perhaps, the reporter could have his image taken - then WALK around the corner to the room where it was being viewed? That was my first thought.

Also, it is not like the images are on the screen for 5 seconds and then cleared. The images are cleared from the screen once the examiner manually clears it via the control system.

Sheesh, some folks need to remove their tin foil hats. As some are starting to really look like fools which does not help the cause.

Also there are always going to be false-positives as well as false-negatives. The question is what will be acceptable. Pistole has said that TSA the current software does not meet their standards (what ever that might be). However, the software does meet other countries standards (Netherlands??) and is currently in use.

AIR machines were originally designed for US customs as an alternative method to an actual strip search. Federal law requires that all documents produced during a customs search--and this is because customs can criminally arrest--be made available to the searchee. This is why the machines do store images.